Thread: Me and my Triton Workstation - Warning - Graphic Images

March 13, 2005 - Sunday bluddy Sunday . . . it was 1.15pm and I was in my woodworkshop minding my own business when the wifey (who will be obeyed) came up and asked me to 'quickly please' rip some wood to make a frame for one of her recently completed paintings.

Of course, I dutifully dropped my current project and proceeded to measure up the painting and gather wood for the job.

I was cutting down a 3.5M length of pine to width required when it started to kick off the other end of the fence. Not wanting an incorrect cut, and knowing that I should be using a fingerboard, I moved from my position in line with the blade, to stand facing the fence so that I could better control the wood either side of the blade . . . no problems so far . . .

As I reached the end of the cut, I lost control of the wood to the right (I hope you can get a mind's eye of this). The weight was tipping the end towards the floor, so I put more pressure down with my left hand while trying to control the heavier end with my right hand. Never mind that I have an adjustable table extender (which was correctly positioned against the wall about 2 metres behind me).

My left thumb collected the blade and tore the tip of it clean off . . .

As I let go of the wood (in my left hand), the blade had another go at the thumb, removing part of the knuckle joint and cutting down the side of my thumb towards the palm.

Needless to say, I called out to my better half (by far - who will be obeyed) as I stumbled back towards the house. Fortunately she heard me first scream, and ran past me when she saw me clutching my left hand blood dripping down me . . . turns out she was racing up to the workshop to try and find digits, and to turn off the saw which was still running.

She then packed my hand in a wet towel and bundled me off to the hospital.

I went into shock and received enough morphine to make me smile, so the next couple of hours (fortunately) remain a blur.

I ended up getting surgery about 7pm that night and they saved the thumb.

It's shorter by about 15mm now and the surgeon told me I did just about the most amount of damage to it I could before he'd have to totally remove it . . .

Seems I tore off the tip, took out 20% of the knuckle which disclocated it and I also broke the bone between the knuckle and hand. He inserted a screw to rejoin a nerve and tendons. He also rebuilt the nailbed, so at least I have this odd looking nail now :eek:

These are photos taken in his surgery about 8 weeks after the surgery when the cast was taken off. The swelling was still there for another 2-3 months.




REPERCUSSIONS:
- Well, I am left handed for starters, so being in a cast was a challenge in itself for the next couple of months - feeding myself right handed . . . lol my dog was my best friend because half my meals ended up at his feet early on;

-I play competition darts and am Captain of a teriffic bunch of guys in a Wollongong based A Grade team - Wests "Grinners" and I am also Captain of the Illawarra Rep side, so that suffered for a long time . . . it still does, as I have no feeling in the tip of my thumb as I've said, so throwing darts left handed as I do has meant many hours of frustrating practice to relearn how to throw without the sensation of the dart resting against the thumb.

WHAT I HAVE LEARNT:
- I have learnt since then that NOTHING gets done quickly in the workshop.
- I have learnt since then that power tools and I do not mix. I take my time and STILL break out into a sweat when I have to use the triton, even to this day.
- I have learnt since then that what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.
- I have no feeling in the thumb from the knuckle up to the tip, although, where the screw is situated near the knuckle joint often aches, reminding me of just how lucky I was that day.